Junior Amit Grewal and sophomore Gavin Bean have shown great improvement in their game to help the Tracy High golf team to the top standings in the San Joaquin Athletic Association.

“They have saved us a couple of times with their low scores,” coach Derek Solano said.

Bean has been playing golf since his freshman year. Before the season, Bean said he changed “some bits of pieces” in his swing.

“I had a hitch in my wrist,” Bean said. “But now I fixed it and I drive the ball straighter, and the ball even goes farther than what it did before.”

Another weak spot Bean said he could work on is his putting. Bean normally practices at the Tracy Golf Country Club. He often goes five times a week and sometimes goes on the weekends.

Bean’s grandfather is an inspiration to him. He is was the one who got Bean into playing golf.

“I go with my grandpa more often because he was the one who taught me and got to me to play and I never know how much time he has left, so I go with him whenever I can,” Bean said.

Bean’s scores have shown improvement. His best score was a 41 on a par 36 against Franklin on March 25. His average score is 45.

Bean and Grewal both cite team captain Jared Finney as their big inspiration on the team. They said Finney can sometimes be hard on his teammates, but also gives them great advice. He tells them not to get down on themselves, stay positive, and to have good attitude.

Grewal has also been practicing a lot. He said he works on his game as much as he can, especially on the weekends with his father.

“Practicing with my dad also gives me a chance to play and bond together with him more,” Grewal said. “It also helps me with my sport and to have a better relationship with him as well,”

Putting is definitely something that Grewal said he could work on. Like Bean, Grewal has changed his swing. He said he slowed it down his and his ball goes straighter. Now his goal is to drive the ball down the green farther.

“With the ball going straighter, I don’t go into many hazards as much,” Grewal said.

He also wants to minimize his mistakes on the green and require fewer putts to reach the hole. He practices those things every day at his Tracy Golf Country Club. He thinks knowing the course gives him an advantage because other teams don’t know the course.

Grewal’s lowest score was a 39 on a par 36 against Lincoln on the Brookside course on April 1. His average score 44.

As of April 17, the Bulldogs are dominating their league with the record of 7-1. Solano was pretty excited about the last two matches because the team scored their lowest matches of the year, a 203 and 206.

Solano is also pumped because he sees the team working real hard and pushing to get better to win the league title.

“I am looking forward to the league tourney in Lockeford on April 28.”

Tuesday’s match against the Lodi was the Bulldogs first lost and their game Wednesday the Bulldogs defeated Bear Creek.

“I am just really happy to see this team’s transformation over the last few years,” Solano said. “They are very hard workers and very dedicated.”

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Hayley Nunes

Junior Amit Grewal